India: Further shots fired at anti-CAA protests February 3 /update 34

Event

On Monday, February 3, two unidentified men on a scooter drove through the anti-CAA protest taking place at Gate 5 at the Jamia Millia University in Delhi and fired into the air. No casualties have been reported. An investigation into the incident is ongoing, though no arrests have yet been made.

Further anti-CAA protests are expected daily from Monday onward in the following cities:

• In Delhi all day at Shaheen Bagh (Okhla); all day at Jamia Millia University (Jamia Nagar); all day at the Afghani Chawk (Waziribad); all day at Inderlok Metro Station (Daya Basti); and all day at the Turkman Gate (Chandni Chowk)
• In Chennai at the Valluvar Kottam Monument (Nungambakkam) from 17:00 onward
• In Bangalore at the Town Hall (Kumbaragundi) from 15:00 onward
• In Hyderabad at the Minar Garden Function Hall (Darulshifa) from 14:00 to 17:00
• Related protests are also planned daily from Monday onwards in Ahmedabad, Aligarh, Allahabad, Aurangabad, Bhilai, Bhopal, Gaya, Jalgaon, Jaipur, Kishanganj, Lucknow, Mumbra, Mysore, Nagpur, Nalanda, Nanded, Parbhani, Patna, Pune, Raipur, Siwan, and Vijaywada

Additionally, protesters are scheduled to march on the Legislative Assembly in Goa on Monday.

Protests are to be expected in the aforementioned cities and locations over the coming several days as government convenes for a four-week review period to respond to legal contestations.

A heightened security presence and disruptions to transportation, business, and telecommunications are to be expected in the vicinity of all protests over the coming days. Clashes between protesters and police cannot be ruled out, and further violent attacks on protesters are possible.

Context

On January 30 a youth fired at protesters at Jamia Millia University, wounding one. On February 1, another gunman opened fire at demonstrators at Shaheen Bagh (Delhi). Both locations have witnessed near-continuous demonstrations since civil unrest started on December 11.

The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) seeks to provide citizenship to non-Muslim minorities fleeing religious persecution in Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan. In conjunction with the National Register of Citizens (NRC), activists claim that it specifically seeks to target Indian Muslims. The NRC aims to identify illegal immigrants by requiring individuals to prove their citizenship based on specific documentation prior to a certain cut-off date. On November 20, Home Minister Amit Shah said that the NRC will be implemented nationwide. Opponents of the CAA argue that it isolates Muslim Indians by favoring all non-Muslim religious minorities who may fail to qualify for the NRC but will nonetheless be assured citizenship. The CAA has also received opposition - particularly in several northeastern states - due to fears that it will encourage an influx of immigrants that will affect the ethnic balance.

India's supreme court refused to strike down the law on January 22, prompting further protests. At least 30 people have been killed in clashes between police and protesters, and police officers have arrested hundreds of demonstrators since December 11.

Advice

Individuals in India are advised to monitor developments, avoid all protests and demonstrations as violence may flare up without warning, and prepare for widespread disruptions to transportation, business, and telecommunications in protest-affected areas. If a demonstration is organized without warning, individuals are advised to refrain from crossing roadblocks, take shelter in a safe place, and avoid taking pictures. Travelers should adhere to all instructions issued by local authorities (especially if curfews are enforced) and their home governments.